This makes me pretty mad.. another lesson to be learned

I took Bassett in for another drain this morning. I knew she would need it, and so that isn't what is making me mad. I was looking through Tilly's records last night, and found that she had NEVER been tested for FIV, FIP and FeLV. I remember asking a vet (not my own vet) if I should get the tests, and he said "at her age, if she's not showing signs by now it really isn't necessary" :mad: At that time, I was totally uninformed about these conditions, and I totally believed his word. Now, after learning things via PT and my own research, I know that some of these things can lay dormant. When Bassett first got sick, she was tested for all these things and she is negative. (THANK HEAVENS!) I'm taking Tilly and Nutmeg in tomorrow to have a blood screen done. I asked my own vet today and she said that it was a good idea (Tilly was a stray before she was captured, and then I adopted her). But here is what makes me mad.. that vet's bad advice COULD have killed one of my cats.. I'm so blessed and happy it didn't but.. I can't believe he told me not to bother. Anyway, before I brought Tilly home, Bassett had been vaccinated, and Nutmeg was vaccinated when I got her, so thankfully they were all protected. I'm just having the blood done for my own peace of mind AND as a just in case. GRR.. what a stupid vet!

I guess the moral is.. never be afraid to be forceful in what you want! They are your pets - if you are willing to pay for a test, your vet should be willing to do it! And a GOOD vet (like my own) would recommend it!!

Good plan and a lesson to be learned by everyone. I'm ashamed to say that neither Max or Speckles have been tested for those but then again, they were not strays and came from a good home. But thanks for the warning. Come to think of it, if I asked my Vet about testing Max and Specks, he'd probably say the same thing. Hmmm, more food for thought.

We were lucky that George, Milly, Milo & Treacle were all tested at their shelters.

This is why we kept Caramel isolated as you never know with strays. (Sadly he tested positive)

Any cat that we see, we make sure that they have been tested for those things and if they haven't then we strongly recommend that the testing be done.

I can't believe that a vet would not bother to do it!

Naomi,

I cannot believe the vet's attitude! But at least you're having them tested now and God willing, it'll be negative.

I've always made it a point to never EVER bring a stray cat into my home until they are tested and vaccinated first.

Good luck and please let us know how everything turns out.

I'm surprised that your vet never tested them, especially after you asked. Tibby got tested at the shelter I got her from, and I think Corkscrew was tested at his shelter because I didn't get him directly from the shelter, but he also got tested a while back when he had the Corona Virus. He had a blood test and they checked for everything.

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Originally posted by moosmom
I've always made it a point to never EVER bring a stray cat into my home until they are tested and vaccinated first.

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If I had known the potential dangers when I got Tilly, I would have done this. But I honestly didn't know. I made a point to ask the vet, and when I got the information, who was I to doubt it? I had never researched it before :( I feel horrible that I didn't do anything about it at the time. But, like I said, they've all been vaccinated and before Bassett and Nutmeg came into contact with Tilly, they were vaccinated. I feel like an awful mom. :(

Naomi: How in the world can you say you are an awful Mom??? After all you've been through with Bassett??? You are one of the best Mom's I know and don't forget that.

When I got my first cats back in the 80's I knew nothing and certainly never thought about getting them tested at all. I just took them in and loved them. Learning is part of life and we have no right to put ourselves down because of ignorance. Just chalk it up to experience.

Prayers still on the way for you and Bassett :) :)

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Originally posted by Nomilynn
If I had known the potential dangers when I got Tilly, I would have done this. But I honestly didn't know. I made a point to ask the vet, and when I got the information, who was I to doubt it? I had never researched it before :( I feel horrible that I didn't do anything about it at the time. But, like I said, they've all been vaccinated and before Bassett and Nutmeg came into contact with Tilly, they were vaccinated. I feel like an awful mom. :(

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Don't, Nomilynn! You are NOT a bad Mom ... we are not vets and can't be expected to know about all the health threats to our furkids. That is what the vets are for! And it makes me mad, but I don't know of many vets at all who test for that illness! Especially since I know someone who lost a furkid to leukaemia. Pixel was tested at her shelter, as kitties that test positive are put down (or in rare cases adopted by a kind human who wants to take care of them).

Now that you DO know, you can make well-informed requests of your vet. It is a sad state of affairs, and human doctors are even worse! I've done my own diagnosing for the last three years, I tell 'em what's wrong and they give me the right meds. Doctors in this country are sooo overworked it's not funny.

Thanks everyone :(

All I know is, if Tilly is positive for ANYTHING, and I have to work out some kind of medical management, I'm going to find this vet and make him pay. I don't know how, but somehow.

I just thank God that my own vet is wonderful and she and I are always on the same page.

Try not to get too stressed out. It's no good for you or Bassett. One day at a time girl.

Naomi, please don't blame yourself. You trusted your vet's information at the time just like any one else would have. Before I adopted Storm, I never knew what these tests were either. Prayers are on the way for Tilly's tests to come back okay. Please take care.

Don't blame yourself Naomi its not your fault.

I got Bastet tested for FIV etc ... even though she was already tested by another vet. I wanted to make sure that she was ok.

I think its great advice to always get a second opinion (or second testing) if you don't know whether or not you can trust the first.

You are NOT a bad mommy! Take a deep breath and wait to see what the test say. I will be praying everything will be okay.

that is so true, with pets, children and ourselves, you have to insist on what you know you need, and its pathetic!

but I wonder, when you first went to this current vet, didnt they see there was no test done on Tilly?

you are not an awful mom, you are a great mom.. those cats of yours are very lucky to have you ! like you said, you did not know, but you asked, and did what anyone would, you took the word of a vet! HE is the bad person here not you... now you know better and are doing what you need to. so you have done nothing wrong, and everything right!

GREAT news - they were both negative :) We can rest a little easier now :) When Bassett gets better, we will all sleep for a few days!

FIV and FLV have only been known for about 15 years, and I think a test has only been in existence for about ten. How long ago were you given this advice? When a test is new, both human and animal doctors may be reluctant to use it since there's no history. Think of it like driving a car which is a brand new model! Anyway, I'm glad your cats are negative.

Yeah!!!:D I'm so glad that Tilly tested negative now you can rest much easier. :)

According to this link from Best Friends, it is extremely difficult to pass FIV on to another cat in the household; http://www.bestfriends.org/sanctuary/creature/FIV.htm

Countless cats are euthanized daily.....all quite unnecessarilly, according to the link.
Another interesting link on the subject;

http://www.theanimalspirit.com/holistic.html